Massaging machine



Patented Jan. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE 1 Claim.

This invention is a machine for massaging the body, and an object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character particularly designed for massaging the back, and especially the spinal column, for inducing sleep and for invigorating and toning up the nerve system.

The invention, together with its objects and advantages, will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of the machine.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the massaging device per se.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the massaging device; and

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view through a portion of the massaging device illustrating cer tain details hereinafter more fully referred to.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, it will be seen that the device inciudes a portable stand 5 consisting of a weighted base 6 mounted on rollers I and provided with brake screws 55 suitably mounted in the brackets provided for the rollers l and adjustable to engage the peripheries of the rollers to apply a braking action thereto, when desired.

Rising from the base 6 is a tubular standard 53 in which is slidable a rod II] that is secured at the desired position of vertical adjustment through the medium of a screw I I.

At the upper end thereof the post or rod section ill is provided with a lateral tubular arm I2 that at its free end is downturned and terminates in a socket I3.

Mounted on the free end of the arm I2 for universal movement relative thereto is a massaging device indicated generally by the reference numeral M.

As clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, the massaging device l4 comprises a hollow casinglike head It provided with a ball formation It that fits within the socket I3 to provide a universal connection between the head [5 and the arm I2.

The bottom of the casing I5 is closed through the medium of a block I! of insulating material, and imbedded in the block ll is a heating element in the form of a resistance coil I8 that is arranged in suitable circuit with a control switch 59 provided therefor and mounted on the rod It.

Also, the plate ii adjacent its opposite longitudinal edges, and its respective opposite end edges, is provided with openings that receive shanks I 9 that extend therethrough and. are pro,

vided at their inner ends with collars 2% that bear against the inner side of the plate ll. At their outer ends the shanks I9 are provided with disk-like heads 2I formed of rubber or other suitable material and equipped with integral teeth or projections 22.

Housed Within the casing I5 are springs 23 that at one end are convoluted about the inner ends of the shanks i9 and bear against the collars 22 for yieldably urging the teeth equipped heads 2! into contact with the body being treated.

For revolving the head I5 there is mounted on the upper end of the post I0 an electric motor 24 and suitably connected with the armature shaft of the motor 24 is a flexible shaft 25 that has a portion thereof extending through the arm I2 and the ball it to terminate within the casing or head I5. On the end of the flexible shaft 25 terminating within the casing or head I5 is a gear 25 that is in fixed engagement with an internal ring gear 27 suitably provided internally of the head I5 and formed integrally with the top of the head, as shown in Figure 2.

It will thus be seen that drive is transmitted from the motor to the head 55 for revolving the latter, and in actual practice, while the head I5 is revolving, the massaging elements 2! are brought into contact with the body under treatment, whereby a thorough massaging of the body is effected.

Obviously, springs 23 act yieldably to cause the massage fingers or elements 2| to bear on the body being treated, thus insuring a contact of all the fingers with the body, the shanks I9 being independently movable so as to move inwardly or outwardly with respect to the head I5 as the contour of the body may require.

For controlling the circuit to the motor 24, there is suitably mounted on the post 9 an electric switch 28.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A massage device comprising a hollow supporting arm having a depending socketed end, a casing embodying spaced top and bottom walls, a ball on the outer surface of the top wall swivelly and rotatably fitted in said socket, said ball having a bore extending therethrough into the casing, a drive shaft extending through the bore into the casing, a drive connection between the shaft and the top wall of the casing for rotating the casing, and a plurality of spring-projected massage elements slidably carried by the bottom Wall,

.' WALTER WILBURN JONES. 

